Salvationist Magazine in Toronto, Ontario

Salvationists Brianne Zelinsky and Michael Carew were in the final stretches of planning their wedding when the pandemic hit last March. "The health crisis, though stressful, allowed me to focus my attention on what matters," Brianne writes. Read more of her beautiful reflection here:

Join Scarborough Citadel with Lieutenants Johnny and Carolina Valencia for worship this morning. We live in such a busy world and all the distractions around make it very difficult for us to hear God’s voice. God is speaking, are you listening?

Vivimos en un mudo tan ocupado que las distracciones no nos permiten escuchar la voz de Dios. Dios esta hablando. ¿Estas escuchando? Te esperamos este domingo a las 10:00 am. Scarborough Citadel con Lts Johnny and Carolina Valencia.

February is Black History Month in Canada. Salvationists Buhle Dlamini and Edi Matondo invite us to pause, acknowledge and celebrate the legacy and transformative work of Black Canadians and their communities, and to continue the conversation about building better communities.

A reminder to visit General Brian Peddle's Facebook page for his weekly video study on "Character." This week's topic is gentleness.

When Paula Geister started volunteering at a Salvation Army soup kitchen, she quickly discovered it was a special community--and a place to learn to love her neighbour. "We take care of one another," she says. "Whichever side of the counter I’m on, I want to keep learning. And loving."

Did you know that anxiety affects more than 20 percent of children and adolescents? And that statistic is from before a global pandemic hit and turned all of our lives upside down. Salvation Army officer Captain Bhreagh Rowe explores the impact of COVID-19 on children’s mental health, and what we can do as parents and caregivers to help them process the world--and our anxieties--through the lens of faith and God’s Word.

Join us for Together in Mission week 8 with special guests Simon Gough, Laura Rowsell, and Steve Brown!

RISING UP - Featuring Cheryl Weber (Territorial Women's Ministries Event)

Listen to episode six of Salvationist: Mission in a Pandemic podcast now at https://salvationist.ca/podcast. In this episode, Major Heather and Captain Nicholas Samuel of London Citadel discuss how they're using innovation to continue corps ministry and share the gospel of Jesus Christ, during a time of COVID-19.

On Saturday, December 12, now at 7:30 p.m. EST, Christmas with The Salvation Army will be streaming live at https://salvationist.ca/Christmas. You won't want to miss this special Christmas celebration featuring ensembles from the Canadian Staff Band and Canadian Staff Songsters as well as Canadian jazz singer Elizabeth Shepherd, as they play our favourite songs of the season.

Brent Hobden is the community ministries director for The Salvation Army in Comox Valley, B.C. Here are his thoughts on the new territorial vision statement. "I see this vision statement as an echo of the Great Commission; as Salvationists, we are called to journey with people who God places into our care and help others recognize the abundance of hope in Christ. The desire to 'build communities that are just' speaks to the inequality that exists in every community, so I unde...rstand just communities as parts of a territory that regards every individual as valued and equal. This action is complemented by the word mobilized, which draws a vivid picture of an Army being sent out to distribute a vital message. It is a strong word of action with pending success. I like to think of myself as an out-of-the-box-thinker, so I connect with this vision and the notion that our Army is moving forward with new ideas. Within our growingly complex communities live diverse populations. To encourage partnership through our vision statement confirms that we will enlist the support of qualified individuals and agencies. Together, we are equipped to love the individuals that God places into our care. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us that, in life, struggles will always be a reality and then he says, But take heart! I have overcome the world. In a COVID-19 reality, a vision like this communicates that our Army anticipates the struggles of life and is well positioned in the community to serve, recognizing that service is an outward expression of love through an indwelling of the Holy Spirit." You can read more testimonials from other focus group participants here: https://salvationist.ca//2020-vision-salvationists-reflec/

Join Captains Brent and Melissa Haas at Fairview Citadel in Halifax at 10:30 a.m. AST / 9:30 a.m. EST for worship. Featuring the Fairview Citadel Worship Team and the Fairview Citadel Band, you will be blessed as we come together from across the territory. Tune in here on our Facebook page or at www.Salvationist.ca/Sunday or the Fairview Citadel YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw4qeiOYrJPuL2-ZDNbx-CA

At The Salvation Army’s North Toronto Community Church last summer, four young women were hired to work at community and family services through the Canada Summer Jobs program--and their contribution was outstanding. Read more:

For Salvation Army Cadet Jenelle Durdle, officership, like nursing and teaching, is as much a calling as it is a career.

The Music and Gospel Arts Department has revamped and relaunched its website at www.salvationist.ca/music-gospel-arts. If you are looking for Christmas resources, livestreaming advice, brass/choir lessons, or their popular Hymn Sing Radio, click on the link about to find it all in one convenient location.

ICYMI: Last week's Together in Mission session helped us grapple with the question: How do we reunite worship and mission? Click the link below to hear from our special guests, Simon Gough, Steve Brown and Laura Rowsell. Tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 25, at 7 p.m. ET, we will be discussing how to make disciples with Colonels Ian and Wendy Swan. Check back here at our Facebook page, or sign up for the Zoom call at www.Salvationist.ca/together. Help us as together we shape the future of the Army!

As we enter another challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, it might be tempting to focus on caring for our families and bubbles. Salvation Army officer Major Karen Puddicombe reminds us that the mental-health consequences of this crisis are even greater for those who are already marginalized.

It was eight years ago that Jackie's world came tumbling down when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. When Majors Dena and Kent Hepditch from The Salvation Army's Sydney Community Church in Nova Scotia visited Jackie, it was a ray of hope that led her family of six to join the church. "Suddenly, there was like a switch that went off in my life, and I was happy," she recalls. "It was then that I realized how important it was to have Jesus in my life, because I got strength and encouragement from my fellow believers. That's how I was able to go from a person who was dying to someone who was living." Watch her share her remarkable journey of faith in her own words.

ICYMI: Here is last week's insightful Together in Mission discussion with Captain (Dr.) John Clifton. Tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 18 at 7 p.m. EST, we will hear from Laura Rowsell, Steve Brown and Simon Gough on how to reunite worship and mission. Don't miss it! Watch us here on Facebook, or to join the discussion and sign up for the Zoom call follow the links at www.salvationist.ca/together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-sVKDUpAn0